Independent participatory media for Iran

Tehran’s deputy mayor for Staff Maintenance announced that a plan to segregate park benches is being considered to make sure young men and women do not sit too close in public.

Meysam Amroodi said provisions could be made to have a table in between seats to allow for appropriate distance between men and women.

Abdolhossein Mokhtabad spoke out against the recent talk of gender segregation, saying: “It is really cause for pity and awe. I do not know why there is so much talk of gender segregation in City Hall. Such things are not practical.”

Last week, a report indicated that Tehran City employees are to be segregated on the basis of gender, and there is a plan to ensure male and female staff do not work in the same office.

The recent talk of gender segregation at Tehran City Hall appears to be a backlash against President Rohani’s call on the establishment to allow the public greater social freedom.